Military leader Min Aung Hlaing leads three-way race as parliament selects presidential candidates

Article by Viory

Myanmar parliament has named its presidential nominees in Naypyidaw on Monday, with former military chief Min Aung Hlaing the clear frontrunner to lead the country.

Footage shows members of the 440-seat Pyithu Hluttaw (People’s Assembly) arriving at the Pyidaungsu parliamentary building. During the session, Hlaing was named along with another candidate, Dr Kyaw Swe of the National Union Party.

“I respectfully submit a proposal to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services, to select the Vice Presidential candidate,” said parliament member Kyaw Kyaw Htay.

The second of two parliament houses, the 224-seat Amyotha Hluttaw, ‘National Assembly’, also presented two candidates, Tu Ja, a representative of Kachin State, and Daw Nan Ni Ni Aye, a representative of Hpa-an Township.

Both houses will choose a president from the three in a later vote. A date for the vote has not been announced.

69-year-old Hlaing has ruled Myanmar since 2021 after ousting the government of Aung San Suu Kyi, detaining the Nobel Peace Prize laureate by dissolving her party, which triggered civil unrest in the country. To participate in the presidential elections, he stepped down from the post of Defence Chief.

The lawmakers were selected in the general elections held at the beginning of 2026, the first in five years of military rule. As the country remains in civil conflict, for security reasons, the elections were held in three phases, with several townships excluded.

Article by Viory